Category: Strong Women

Encouragement, Facebook Mona AlvaradoFrazier, RAINN, RAINN fundraiser, Rape, Sexual Abuse, Sexual Violence, Strong Women, Support for victims

How to Support Victims of Sexual Violence

Mona Alvarado Frazier
colorfully.eu

News reports over the weekend publicized the sexual violence recently perpetrated in the cases of Steubenville and New Delhi.

The fact that both these cases occurred in public with more than one perpetrator was particularly grievous, horrendous and terrifying. 
The first media reports about these two cases felt like the unnerving news of the shootings at Sandy Hook, the Sikh temple in Wisconsin, and the Aurora, CO movie theater.

Is no one safe from sexual violence even on a bus, at a party, on a military base, in a church?

We know the answer. We’ve heard and read about it. One of every six women who read this has experienced sexual abuse, one in 33 men. 


This, like all cases of sexual violence I read or hear about, pains me, as a human being, a woman, and a person who has experienced sexual abuse.

The reports, images, and news talk linger in my mind much, much longer than they do in an 30 or 60 second news blurb. 

For the victims it lasts a lifetime, in one way or another.

This is an emotional laden subject and one you may click through. Not because you don’t care, but because you feel hopeless or powerless about this subject. 
gettyimages

But you are not powerless to help support someone who has experienced sexual violence.

You can become more aware, volunteer with an organization that assists victims, donate money, and/or support organizations that are dedicated to stopping sexual violence.  

One of the national resources is RAIN (Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network). These suggestions to help emotional support someone comes directly from their site:

  • Listen. Be there. Don’t be judgmental.
  • Be patient. Remember, it will take your loved one some time to deal with the crime.
  • Help to empower your loved one. Rape and sexual violence are crimes that take away an individual’s power, it is important not to compound this experience by putting pressure on your loved one to do things that he or she is not ready to do yet.
  • If you are dealing with an issue involving your child, create a safe place by talking directly to them.
  • Encourage your loved one to report the rape or sexual violence to law enforcement (call 911 in most areas). If your loved one has questions about the criminal justice process, talking with someone on the National Sexual Assault Hotline, 1.800.656.HOPE, can help.
  • Let your loved one know that professional help is available through the National Sexual Assault Hotline, 1.800.656.HOPE, and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.
  • If your loved one is willing to seek medical attention or report the assault, offer to accompany him or her wherever s/he needs to go (hospital, police station, campus security, etc.)
  • Encourage him or her to contact one of the hotlines, but realize that only your loved one can make the decision to get help.
rainn.org

To help support victims you don’t personally know, use your shopping acumen by  shopping to support RAINN. From Amazon to Urban Outfitters, and in between, anywhere from 7% to 1.5% of sales are contributed to this organization. Or buy some RAINN Gear, they have some very cool bracelets that I bought. Here’s one of them. 

Or help support my personal 30 day campaign to raise funds for RAINN. It’s not a whole lot, but it’s my pledge to support victims and be part of the change to make lives better. 

On my Facebook page I’ll have status updates for the next 30 days (until April 19, 2013). I’ll give away one of the bracelets.* 

Contributions are tax deductible, safe on a secure website, and you will receive a receipt from RAINN.

*details will  be posted on my FB page about giveaway.


One Woman, Strong Women, UN International Women's Day, Violence Against Women Act, Women's History Month

International Women’s Day-Unity through Song

Mona Alvarado Frazier


“There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon


The quote illustrates the theme of International Women’s Day: Time for action, time to end violence against women.

 Yesterday President Obama signed The Violence Against Women Act. The expanded version of the Act is an important milestone in recognizing the rights of women, whomever they are, to be protected and guarded against domestic violence and sexual assault. This human rights violation affects up to seven women out of ten. The stats are higher in some countries.

Part of the UN campaign is to spread a message of solidarity and unity with others, through song and music. Here’s their inspiring song:
One Woman
Titled “One Woman,” the song is sung by 25 international artists who sing about the solidarity that exists among women and how through that solidarity women can overcome the violence that still threatens too many in this world.

One Woman
In Kigali, she wakes up,
She makes a choice,
In Hanoi, Natal, Ramallah.
In Tangier, she takes a breath,
Lifts up her voice,
In Lahore, La Paz, Kampala.
Though she’s half a world away
Something in me wants to say …
We are One Woman,
You cry and I hear you.
We are One Woman,
You hurt, and I hurt, too.
We are One Woman,
Your hopes are mine.
We shall shine.
In Juarez she speaks the truth,
She reaches out,
Then teaches others how to.
In Jaipur, she gives her name,
She lives without shame
In Manila, Salta, Embu.
Though we’re different as can be,
We’re connected, she with me
We are One Woman,
Your courage keeps me strong.
We are One Woman,
You sing, I sing along.
We are One Woman,
Your dreams are mine.
And we shall shine.
We shall shine.
And one man, he hears her voice.
And one man, he fights her fight.
Day by day, he lets go the old ways,
One Woman at a time.
Though she’s half a world away,
Something in me wants to say.
We are One Woman,
Your victories lift us all.
We are One Woman,
You rise and I stand tall.
We are One Woman,
Your world is mine
And we shall shine.
Shine, shine, shine.
We shall shine
Shine, shine, shine.
We shall shine.
Shine, shine, shine.
What else can you do? 
Join the conversation and follow @UN_Women and the hashtag #1woman on Twitter. 
You can also donate a tweet through Thunderclap, which will be released on 8 March. Click on the link, scroll to the photo like the orange one above and click. That’s it. You can download the song if you’d like too.
Take an interesting quiz here.  Every point you score counts towards the Say NO action counter. 

Share the song through your social media networks. Share your thoughts.